For most Australian comms racks the right PowerShield UPS is decided by depth first, then load. Shallow wall-mount cabinets suit the Defender Rackmount (PSDR800, 230 mm deep, or the 2RU PSDR1500, 300 mm deep). Floor racks with more depth suit the 2U Centurion RT online UPS (380 to 600 mm deep), including the 480 mm Short Base PSCERT2000SB, or the line-interactive pure sine Commander RT. Add a PSRK rail kit, an RPR PDU, a PSMBS bypass switch and a PSSNMPV4 card to finish the rack.
Quick pick: small office wall cabinet: Defender Rackmount. Business rack running servers or a NAS: Centurion RT with rails and an SNMP card. Hot plant room: Centurion RT LiFePO4. ARC IP Networks is a trusted PowerShield supplier in Australia: genuine stock at competitive prices, with the full PowerShield Australian warranty, Australia-wide delivery and trade pricing.
PowerShield rack UPS at a glance
Every PowerShield rack model is 438 mm wide to suit a standard 19-inch rack. The Centurion RT, Centurion RT LiFePO4 and Commander RT are 88 mm (2U) high and can also stand as a tower. Depth is where they differ, and depth is what decides whether a UPS fits your cabinet.
Swipe the table sideways to compare all models →
| Model | Depth | Capacity | Topology | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defender Rackmount 800VA | 230 mm | 800VA / 480W | Line-interactive, simulated sine | Shallow wall cabinets: NBN, router, small PoE switch |
| Defender Rackmount 1500VA | 300 mm | 1500VA / 900W | Line-interactive, simulated sine | Wall cabinets with a switch, NVR and firewall |
| Commander RT 1100VA | 380 mm | 1100VA / 990W | Line-interactive, pure sine | Small racks that want pure sine output |
| Centurion RT 1000VA / 1500VA | 380 mm | 1000VA / 900W, 1500VA / 1350W | Online double conversion | Business racks, servers, NAS |
| Centurion RT 2000VA Short Base | 480 mm | 2000VA / 1800W | Online double conversion | Shorter racks that need 2 kVA |
| Commander RT 2000VA | 480 mm | 2000VA / 1800W | Line-interactive, pure sine | Network and telecom racks on a budget |
| Centurion RT LiFePO4 1000 / 2000 / 3000 | 380 / 480 / 600 mm | 900W / 1800W / 2700W | Online double conversion | Warm rooms, lighter installs, 5-year warranty |
| Centurion RT 3000VA, Commander RT 3000VA | 600 mm | 3000VA / 2700W | Online / line-interactive | Full server racks (15 A power point) |
| Centurion RT 6000VA Long Run | 600 mm | 6000VA / 6000W | Online double conversion | Larger racks with external battery banks |
Depth, capacity and topology from PowerShield product pages and brochures. Depth is the chassis only; allow extra space for plugs and cables at the rear.
Start with depth, not VA
The most common mistake is buying on VA rating and then finding the UPS won't fit. Wall-mount cabinets in Australian offices, shops and clinics are often shallow. Measure the usable depth from the front rails to the back of the cabinet, then allow room for plugs and cables behind the UPS.
Under 300 mm: Defender Rackmount
PowerShield designed the Defender Rackmount for shallow, wall-mounted comms cabinets. The PSDR800 is just 230 mm deep and 7.7 kg; the PSDR1500 is a 2RU unit, 300 mm deep and 13.8 kg. Both are 438 mm wide and 86 mm high, run without fans in normal mode (under 40 dB) and have an intelligent slot for the PowerShield SNMP card.
380 to 480 mm: the 1 to 2 kVA rack/tower models
The Centurion RT 1000VA, Centurion RT 1500VA, Commander RT 1100VA and Centurion RT LiFePO4 1000VA are all 380 mm deep. At 480 mm you get 2 kVA: the Centurion RT 2000VA Short Base, which PowerShield describes as perfect for communications racks with a shorter depth, the Commander RT 2000VA and the Centurion RT LiFePO4 2000VA.
600 mm: 3 kVA and up
The Centurion RT 2000VA, Centurion RT 3000VA, Commander RT 3000VA, Centurion RT LiFePO4 3000VA and Centurion RT 6000VA Long Run are 600 mm deep. Plan for weight too: the Centurion RT 3000VA is 26.8 kg and the Commander RT 3000VA is 32 kg, so check your cabinet's load rating and use rails rather than resting the UPS on a shelf lip.
3000VA models need a 15 A power point, according to PowerShield. Budget for an electrician if the rack only has 10 A outlets.
Line-interactive or online for a comms rack?
PowerShield makes rack UPSs in both main topologies (see our online vs line-interactive guide):
- Line-interactive (Defender Rackmount, Commander RT) corrects high and low mains voltage with AVR without going to battery. The Defender Rackmount gives a simulated sine wave on battery; the Commander RT gives a pure sine wave.
- True online double conversion (Centurion RT, Centurion RT LiFePO4) rebuilds clean AC all the time, isolating the load from mains problems with zero transfer time. It is generator compatible.
An NBN box, router and small PoE switch are well served by a Defender Rackmount. Servers, a NAS, phones and camera recording, or sites with poor mains or a generator, are where the Centurion RT earns its place.
The PowerShield rack/tower range
Defender Rackmount (800VA and 1500VA)
Six (800VA) or five (1500VA) Australian sockets plus two 10 A IEC outlets, AVR that holds output within 10% of nominal, a typical 8-minute backup at 50% load and a 2-year warranty.
Commander RT (1100, 2000 and 3000VA)
Line-interactive, pure sine wave, 0.9 output power factor, five C13 outlets plus Australian sockets, programmable outlets and hot-swappable batteries. The 2000VA and 3000VA take an external battery bank; the 1100VA doesn't. Warranty is 2 years, or 3 years when you register the UPS with PowerShield.
Centurion RT (1000 to 3000VA) and Short Base
PowerShield's highest power density online single-phase UPS, with a 0.9 output power factor (the 1000VA delivers 900 W), five C13 outlets plus Australian sockets, an LCD that reads horizontal or vertical, and an intelligent slot for SNMP, Modbus or relay cards. Every model takes a battery bank: the PSRTBB6 for 1000/1500VA, the PSRTBB8 for the Short Base and the PSRTBB12 for 2000/3000VA. Warranty is 2 years, or 3 years when registered.
Centurion RT LiFePO4 and 6000VA Long Run
The LiFePO4 models use lithium iron phosphate batteries (up to one third lighter, operation up to 40°C without battery degradation) and carry a 5-year warranty, but they aren't expandable; see our lithium vs lead-acid guide. The PSCERT6000L is a 6000VA / 6000W Long Run model that runs from external battery banks such as the 2U PSRTBB16 or the 3U PSCERBB20.
Rail kits: PSRK and PSRK1100
Rails are not included with PowerShield rack UPSs, so order them at the same time. Both kits are telescopic and occupy 1RU (40 mm).
| Rail kit | Depth range | Max load | Kit weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSRK | 470 to 780 mm | 80 kg | 1.6 kg |
| PSRK1100 (extra long) | 475 to 1100 mm | 75 kg | 1.7 kg |
From PowerShield product pages and the PSRK1100 installation guide.
Choose the PSRK1100 when the rear posts sit beyond 780 mm. The "Network Ready" bundles, such as PS1KRNB2U (Centurion RT 1000VA, SNMP card and rail kit) and PS2KRNB3U (Centurion RT 2000VA, SNMP card, rail kit and PSMBS2K bypass), include a PSRK.
Rack PDUs: the RPR range
PowerShield's unmanaged RPR PDUs add outlets to a rack, and every model has a built-in 6 kA C-curve circuit breaker:
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| PDU | Outlets | Input | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| RPR-6HMCB | 6 Australian sockets | 10 A plug | Horizontal, 1RU |
| RPR-10HMCB | 10 Australian sockets | 10 A plug | Horizontal, 2RU |
| RPR-15VMCB | 15 Australian sockets | 10 A plug | Vertical, 1010 mm |
| RPR-20VMCB | 20 Australian sockets | 10 A plug | Vertical, 1293 mm |
| RPR-IEC-10A10H | 10 x C13 | C14 lead (from a C13 outlet) | Horizontal, 1RU |
| RPR-IEC-16A10H | 8 x C13, 2 x C19 | C20 lead (from a C19 outlet) | Horizontal, 1RU |
| RPR-IEC-16A20H | 16 x C13, 4 x C19 | C20 lead | Horizontal, 2RU |
| RPR-IEC-16A20V | 16 x C13, 4 x C19 | C20 lead | Vertical, 0RU |
Outlet counts, inputs and sizes from PowerShield product pages.
The IEC-input PDUs are designed to plug straight into a UPS. The C14-input RPR-IEC-10A10H plugs into any of the C13 outlets on a Centurion RT or Commander RT. The C20-input models need a C19 outlet, such as the one on the Centurion RT LiFePO4 3000VA or on the PSMBS3K bypass switch. The UPS still limits the total load, so size it for everything on the PDU (our UPS sizing guide shows how).
Maintenance bypass switches (PSMBS)
A maintenance bypass switch (MBS) lets you service or swap the UPS without powering down the rack. In "Bypass" the load runs from mains; in "Bypass and Isolate" no voltage is present at the UPS terminals, so it can be removed and replaced without interrupting the load.
- PSMBS2K (1 to 2 kVA) and PSMBS3K (3 kVA) combine the bypass with a hot-swap PDU: seven outlets (7 x C13 on the 2K; 6 x C13 plus 1 x C19 on the 3K). They mount in a rack (0RU, horizontal or vertical), on a wall, or on a Centurion RT or Commander RT.
- PSMBSR10K is a hardwired rack-mount bypass for 6 to 10 kVA UPSs, with a mechanical safety microswitch that prevents an incorrect switching sequence. Pair it with the PSPDU10K PDU (8 x C13, 4 x C19).
- PSMBSW10K is the interlocked, hardwired wall-mount version for 6 to 10 kVA. Hardwired switches are installed by a licensed electrician.
Network management: SNMP, relay and environment
Every PowerShield rack UPS has USB as standard. PowerShield's free NetGuard software runs on Windows, Linux, Unix and Mac, and USB HID lets Windows, Apple, Linux and NAS devices shut down safely (see our UPS for NAS guide). That covers one server or NAS on USB.
A comms rack has more than one device, and UniFi gateways, MikroTik routers and PoE switches aren't on NetGuard's list of supported systems. The answer is to put the UPS itself on the network with the PSSNMPV4 SNMP card. It fits the intelligent slot and lets you monitor one or several UPSs and schedule shutdowns, start-ups and reboots, with VMware/Hyper-V support and Modbus TCP/IP. PowerShield publishes MIB files for it; check that your monitoring platform accepts third-party SNMP devices.
Which setup for which Australian site
| Site | Typical rack | Suggested PowerShield setup |
|---|---|---|
| Small office, shop or clinic | Wall cabinet: NBN box, router, PoE switch | PSDR800 or PSDR1500, plus PSSNMPV4 if you want alerts |
| Medical or legal practice server rack | Floor rack: server or NAS, switch, phones | Centurion RT 1000VA Network Ready bundle |
| Short or shallow floor rack, 2 kVA load | Under 600 mm usable depth | PSCERT2000SB + PSRK, add PSRTBB8 for runtime |
| Plant room, warehouse or roof-space rack | Warm space, hard to service | PSLCERT2000 + PSRK + PSEMD via SNMP card |
| Head office or school server rack | Full-depth rack, 3 kVA | Centurion RT 3000VA bundle with bypass, add PSRTBB12 for runtime |
| Multi-rack site, 6 kVA | Deep racks, hardwired circuit | Centurion RT 6kVA bundle (UPS, battery bank, SNMP, bypass, rails) |
ARC IP Networks suggestions based on PowerShield specifications. Confirm your load with a sizing check before ordering.
PowerShield rack picks at ARC IP Networks
Live Australian pricing (inc. GST) and availability are shown on each product page.
230 mm deep, 800VA/480W line-interactive for shallow wall cabinets.
Lithium online UPS, 14.6 kg, 5-year PowerShield warranty.
UPS, SNMP card, rail kit and PSMBS2K bypass in one bundle.
Buying genuine PowerShield from ARC IP Networks
ARC IP Networks is a trusted PowerShield supplier in Australia: genuine stock at competitive prices, with the full PowerShield Australian warranty, Australia-wide delivery and trade pricing.
- Genuine PowerShield stock with the PowerShield Australian warranty, and warranty and RMA questions handled locally by our team.
- Australia-wide delivery, or free pickup from 6 George Street, Blackburn VIC 3130.
- Trade accounts for installers, integrators and MSPs, plus project and volume pricing on larger jobs.
- Pre-sales help on 1300 100 440 (Mon to Fri, 9 to 5 Melbourne time) or info@arcip.com.au.
See the full PowerShield range at ARC IP Networks.
Common questions
Straight answers from the ARC IP Networks team. Last reviewed October 2026.
The PowerShield Defender Rackmount. The PSDR800 is 230 mm deep and the PSDR1500 is a 2RU unit 300 mm deep. PowerShield designed both for shallow, wall-mounted comms cabinets, and both have Australian sockets plus two 10 A IEC outlets.
The Centurion RT 1000VA and 1500VA are 380 mm deep, the 2000VA Short Base is 480 mm, and the 2000VA and 3000VA are 600 mm. All are 438 mm wide and 88 mm (2U) high.
No. Rails are sold separately. The PSRK fits racks from 470 to 780 mm deep and the PSRK1100 fits 475 to 1100 mm. The Network Ready bundles include a PSRK rail kit.
Not through NetGuard, which runs on Windows, Linux, Unix and Mac. For a rack of network gear, fit the PSSNMPV4 card so the UPS is on the network for monitoring, alerts and scheduled shutdowns, and check that your monitoring platform supports third-party SNMP devices.
You need one if the rack must stay up while the UPS is serviced or replaced. The PSMBS2K suits 1 to 2 kVA, the PSMBS3K suits 3 kVA, and the PSMBSR10K or PSMBSW10K suit 6 to 10 kVA hardwired UPSs.
Yes. PowerShield states that its 3000VA models need a 15 A power point, so check the outlet in your rack or comms room before ordering.
From ARC IP Networks. ARC IP Networks is a trusted PowerShield supplier in Australia: genuine stock at competitive prices, with the full PowerShield Australian warranty, Australia-wide delivery and trade pricing. Call 1300 100 440 for a rack or project quote.
Planning a comms rack or cabinet?
Send us the rack depth, the equipment list and the runtime you need, and we will put together a PowerShield UPS, rails, PDU and SNMP quote.